The up-and-coming climbers Katharina Bacher and Tobias Holzknecht grew up in Ötztal and still remain loyal to their valley today.
Katharina Bacher
She is 26 years old, an architecture student in Innsbruck and has already mastered routes up to the 10th degree of difficulty. She is not the only one in the family with a passion for climbing. Her two older sisters Sabine and Barbara have already celebrated international climbing successes. They grew up in Längenfeld in Ötztal and Katharina was always involved in climbing right from the start. She had her first climbing experience when she was around three years old.
Switching off at home in Ötztal
Today, she takes every opportunity to take a break from her studies at home in Ötztal while climbing. She appreciates the Nösslach and Niederthai climbing gardens because of the rock with good grip and the good location. You stay in the valley and can still enjoy the mountain world around you.
Tobias Holzknecht
Tobias Holzknecht, photo: Elias Holzknecht
He is 19 years old, a metal technician and comes from Oberried. He started climbing there when he was eight years old. At the age of 11, he injured his arm so badly that, according to the doctors, he will no longer be able to stretch his arm. But four years later, Tobias decided to try climbing again. He can now fully extend his arm and has set himself a high goal: the Climbing World Cup.
Challenges in the Ötztal
His favorite climbing area in Ötztal is still the Oberried climbing garden with routes up to difficulty level 9. He finds great challenges in the Niederthai climbing garden with routes up to 10+, which he tries again and again.
